University mascot sends recovering official back to hospital

KNXV-TV reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1YCD4VY ) that Sparky the mascot playfully jumped on a suburban Phoenix official recovering from back surgery at a football game. Tempe City Councilman David Schapira says he laughed until he felt a pop, which he later learned was a back muscle tearing.

The university apologized for its mascot's ''excessive exuberance'' and offered to help pay medical expenses related to his delayed recovery.

Schapira says his wife was holding his cane while he took a photo on the sidelines Friday, and that's when the mascot spotted him and pounced. The run-in sent him back to the hospital.

The lifelong ASU fan says he's not mad at Sparky but may wear a warning sign next time.